Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-14 PACKET 09.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGEND MEETING ITEM # DATE 8/14/2013 ' • PREPARED BY Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD ********************************************�*** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST: Receive response to Council regarding Highlands Park Splash Pad. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive response. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS � MEMO/LETTER: Memo from Zac Dockter. ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS: i r , � G} ity Administrator Date *********�***�********************************** COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER H:\nbelscamper\Templates\City Council�Action Form.doc City of Cottage Grove J Minnesota To: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director CC: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Date: July 31, 2013 Subject: Highlands Park Splash Pad Update Considering the Highlands Park splash pad has been open for over one full season, it is an opportune time to update the Parks Commission and City Council on its usage, impacts and operations. Community Usage � The splash pad does not have admission fees or a gate so tracking usage is certainly not an exact measurement. However, staff spent a significant time last year and early in 2013 counting users at strategic intervals. By documenting the usage patterns based on the day of the week, time of day and weather, staff believes it has a very good base for estimating annual usage. The current estimate for total usage in a given year is over 22,000. This compares to an average of 4,000 uses at the municipal pool over the last five operating seasons. We believe our splash pad estimate to be conservatively low as there are likely a lot of "passerby" type uses that are not documented. For example, joggers or bicyclers who stop to cool off, or a team of ballplayers after a basketball or baseball game. Those users may just stop in for five minutes and likely are not included in this number. For a normal season, operational dates will likely be between early/mid May to mid/late September. This extended and flexibility of the season is a benefit of splash pads in that almost all outdoor aquatic/pool facilities have operational dates of Memorial Day through Labor Day. Park Impacts It's important to note that the splash pad not only provides an aquatic recreational opportunity to the community but it also has increased awareness and usage of the supporting recreational facilities at Highlands Park. The park is used more today than it ever has been in the past. Minus athletic complexes, Highlands Park is the most heavily utilized park in the community. To put that into perspective, on a hot summer weekday afternoon Highlands Park will typically have more users at any given moment than all other parks combined. This increased park attendance has created more use of the playground, ballfields, courts, picnic shelters and trails. Further, park building usage has increased considerably as well. In 2011 there were 10 rentals at Highlands Park prior to splash pad construction and building remodel. In 2012 the rentals increased to 22 and 2013 is currently scheduled for 40. The increased rentals reflect an increase in facility rental revenue of approximately $2,000. Operational Impacts The impacts to labor and budget have been fairly minimal. On a typical day, one staff person is assigned to open the splash pad with responsibilities taking approximately one hour to complete. Tasks include cleaning/opening the restrooms, cleaning the pad area, emptying trash and making sure all the splash pad equipment is functioning properly. With the exception of about 8 hours to open and close the system for the season, it is quite rare any additional maintenance is necessary beyond the normal routine. Additional staff is required to service the building for private rentals. Those expenses are recovered through user fees. The Police Department has been a great partner in this process by providing an officer or CSO each night to lock up the facility and give the site a security check prior to sundown. To date, no significant repairs, vandalism or other costs have been incurred that would not be considered routine maintenance. Below is an expense report for the splash pad as compared to the pool. Please note that the City does not actually pay itself for water usage but tracking that number is good for accountability purposes. Revenue Expense Personnel Commodities Services Capital Improvements YMCA Subsidy Net Expense Water Expense @ .00150/gallon Net Expense w/water *Not an actual cash expense Note: the net expense for the pool operation to the City was approximately $25.44/customer while the cost of the splash pad is at $0.64/user. While customers of the pool paid entry fees those fees went toward underwriting the expenses of the YMCA who were the operators of the pool. During the nine years the YMCA operated the pool they generally realized an operating deficit as well. Water Usage The splash pad uses approximately 5 million gallons of water per year (227 gallons/user). To put that number into perspective, that is less than 1% of the City's total water usage. Further, it compares to 1.5 million gallons of usage at the municipal pool (375 gallons/user). The water is sent directly from the splash pad to the holding pond within the park. There are two differing views on that usage of water. One side may consider it "wasted water" and while the other may say the water is returned directly to the natural water cycle thus having a minimal impact on the environment. Each person can make their own opinion and even hydrologists will likely differ on this topic. An interesting side benefit of using the water to waste model has been the improved water quality of the Highlands Park pond. In previous years the pond was very green, murky and filled with algae. Much of that has been eradicated by infusion of fresh water on a continual basis. Neighborhood residents have opined that there is increased presence of ducks in the pond since the splash pad install. Once again, these are the facts and each person can determine for themselves if these residual effects are a benefit or not to the park and community. Final Thoughts Although the splash pad continues to have bits of controversy over expense, water usage and its recreational benefits, one cannot argue the fact that as a recreational feature the splash pad stands alone as the most utilized recreational equipment in the community. There is no other court, ballfield, building, shelter or recreational facility that gets as much use as the splash pad. Because of its success, other communities are taking note and building or considering splash pads for their community. In this region, both Woodbury and Rosemount are building splash pads in the next year. Several others are researching the idea as well and have visited our site. In August, a tour has been scheduled by metro Parks and Recreation Departments for the purpose of visiting unique and successful recreational improvements over the past five years. The Highlands Park splash pad is proud to be a stop on that tour. As always, the Parks and Recreation Department strives to be wise with the funds it is generously allocated by the community. The splash pad is an example where spending a little more for a recreational facility can pay off by increased usage and appreciation of that investment. Over the life of the splash pad the cost per use will be considerably less than comparable recreational equipment such as playgrounds, ballfields, courts and trails. Should you have any further questions, comments or concerns on the splash pad or any other parks and recreation activities always feel free to contact me directly.